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Content by Amy MacDougall
Commentateur n° : 107
Votes Utiles:
164
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Reviews Written by
Amy MacDougall (Mississauga, ON Canada)
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Reviewer Rank:
107 |
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The Golden Mean
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de Annabel Lyon
Édition : Hardcover |
| Price: CDN$ 19.77 |
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| Availability: In Stock |
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61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:
Fascinating characterizations of Aristotle and Alexander, Oct 24 2009
Knowing little about early Greece, I approached this novel with trepidation, thinking it would be a boring, dry venture in historical fiction. Nothing could be further from the truth! I became totally enraptured by this quick paced novel, and by Lyon's superb characterizations of some great historical luminaries; specifically Aristotle and his young student, Alexander. The novel is about so much more than the molding of young Alexander into his destined "Greatness" - it is about the strained relationships between Alexander and his father, Philip of Macedon, and, even as a child, Alexander's bloodthristy penchant for violence that Aristotle tries, with some success, to temper with a methodical, calm, and intelligent approach during their lessons. Is Alexander a product of Philip's powerful and aggressive reign, or is Aristotle's restrained and analytical presence the stronger influence on Alexander as he becomes a young man? These are the questions I became consumed by as I devoured this exceptionally well written novel. Highly recommended. [Amy MacDougall]
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Suspenseful novel about family ties and sibling rivalry, April 29 2009
The Sudden Disappearance of Seetha is both a coming of age and a mystery novel. Neela and Navi are a sister and brother being raised by their maternal grandmother in what appears to be a country in the Caribbean, or perhaps the author's birthplace of Guyana. Neela and Navi each have their own strengths and weaknesses - Neela is a good writer who often underachieves at school, and Navi is recognized by the community for his exceptional intellectual ability. As children, both vie for the attention of their mother, who emigrated to a Western nation to work as a nanny, during short and infrequent long distance telephone calls.
The novel takes a suspenseful turn of political intrigue when the newly elected government party in power recruits the local people to move to an undeveloped region of the country to build and create a tourism hotspot. Neela, now in her late teens, is tired of competing with her brother for attention from her family,and runs away from home to work on this tourist development project. What happens next results in explosive violence and isolation as Neela must fight for her life and the life of her infant daughter, Seetha, in the desolation of the tropical wilderness.
Neela eventually learns that despite old hurts from the past, the blood ties of family can never truly be severed. The seething anger that exists inside Neela eventually evaporates as she gains greater insight into herself, and her family. [Amy MacDougall]
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Post WWII story narrated through letter-writing is a heartfelt tale, April 4 2009
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a jewel of story - clear, vibrant, and beautiful. The protagonist is Juliet Ashton, a young British woman in her early thirties who survived World War II by working as a journalist. In 1946, with the war over, Juliet finds herself with a case of writer's block. She is ready to write her next piece, but needs a worthy subject. Eventually, she finds her subjects in the people of Guernsey, one of the English Channel Islands that was occupied by the Germans and completely cut-off from any contact with England during the war.
The plot unfolds through a series of letters written between Juliet and her friends, including her sensible publisher, her faithful best friend, her dashing American suitor, and several people from Guernsey, who describe what life was like for them during the war. The authors flesh out all the characters very authentically even though they never speak a word of dialogue to each other. Fans of historical fiction will be fascinated by the anecdotal stories of the Guernsey locals, who give Juliet as well as the reader a glimpse into everyday life during the war.
In the afterword, the authors comment that it took years of research to write this book, and the research they did shows. That they were able to capture the Guernsey setting so realistically in its post war years solely through letter writing is a romantic and rare treat in today's world of electronic communication. Highly recommended. [Amy MacDougall]
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Hurry Down Sunshine
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de Michael Greenberg
Édition : Hardcover |
| Price: CDN$ 18.87 |
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| Availability: In Stock |
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Father, Interrupted..., Mar 21 2009
Michael Greenberg's memoir about his daughter's struggles with mania is a frequently compelling read. Greenberg's daughter, Sally, is fifteen the year she has her first episode of bipolar I. The memoir is structured into three different sections - Sally's initial puzzling symptoms, her hospitalization and treatment, and finally, her life after she is discharged. The reader, like the author, experiences several different emotions as we follow his narrative - sadness, anger, impatience, and often, confusion at the mystery of mental illness.
Hurry Down Sunshine will fascinate most readers, although parents of a child with mental illness may find it especially meaningful. There are some similarities in Greenberg's memoir to Susanna Kaysen's excellent book, Girl Interrupted, but here the focus is on the father's experience of parenting a daughter with mental illness while nagivating his way through her diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. One of the most memorable passages is when Greenberg, desperate to relate to his daughter in the midst of her illness, takes her medication to try to understand how his daughter feels under the influence of anti-psychotic drugs.
The appendix provides a brief update of Sally's life since 1996. Greenberg's memoir, and his sensitive yet realistic portrayal of his daughter, gives hope to those whose lives are touched by mental illness. [Amy MacDougall].
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Hard not to love this quirky Canadian coming of age story..., Mar 6 2009
Sarnia, Ontario born author Brian Francis gives readers a lot to like in his thirteen year old protagonist Peter Paddington. Like all kids, Peter struggles with his emerging sexuality in the early teen years and his commentary on the angst of puberty made me smile and chuckle several times. Peter really wants to be accepted by the other grade eight kids in his class, and his story frequently digresses into his own imagined popularity. The day to day life of a thirteen year is captured with humour and sensitivity in this book, from Peter's menopausal and overprotective mom to his crabby older sisters; the school cliques he must contend with, his questions about God and faith, his first crush, and the neverending rolls of duct tape (read the novel to find out what the duct tape is all about!). Anyone who grew up in the 80s will fondly identify with the pop culture references to that era that the author effectively infuses into the setting. I really liked this novel with its distinctive teen narrative voice. I hope that the author does a sequel to this novel that follows Peter Paddington throughout his high school years! [Amy MacDougall]
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The Outlander
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de Gil Adamson
Édition : Paperback |
| Price: CDN$ 13.83 |
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| Availability: In Stock |
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7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
Clever premise that almost delivers, Feb 20 2009
The main character of Gil Adamson's novel is the widow - a woman carving out a marginalized existence in the wilderness who always seems to stay one step ahead of her pursuers - red haired twins who want avenge the death of their brother, believed to have been murdered by the widow. Without a doubt, there are suspenseful plot twists and turns as the reader follows the widow on her journey of redemption.
The novel is an interesting read, although some of the characters did not ring true for me. For example, there is the crabby yet craftily shrewd dwarf who runs the local store in the mining camp were the widow temporarily settles down. This character seems reminiscent of the dwarf from the excellent novel Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen. Additionally, the clergyman's unconventional gospel teachings to the local miners reminded me of scenes from both the novel and film version of Fight Club. However, the turn of the century setting and the female protagonist's voice give a new take on the whole fugitive on the run plotline.
The Outlander is a worthwhile read, although some of the elements lack a fresh perspective. [Amy MacDougall]
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thirtysomething women will appreciate this cool and funny novel, Dec 29 2008
The Prairie Bridesmaid is a lot of fun to read. The narrator, Anna Lasko, hates her teaching job, is tired of planning her friend's wedding, and wants to break up with her emotionally abusive boyfriend. In addition, her sister has eloped and her grandmother is obsessed with dying. This girl's got a lot on her plate!
This novel is a quick read, and Anna's take on her life is often humourous. My only criticism is that many of the secondary characters and situations seem stereotyped and one-dimensional...for example, the abusive boyfriend, the crazy grandmother, the bridezilla best friend, the rebellious younger sibling and the bi-curious fling. It's still an enjoyable book, but I never really believed that Anna was in serious personal turmoil (or danger) from the abusive boyfriend. I think the book strives to be taken more seriously than it comes across in the narrative. Ultimately, I was won over by the humour in the writing and the relatable dilemmas the anti-heroine must face. Definitely recommended for chick lit fans! [Amy MacDougall]
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Doesn't quite live up to expectations, Dec 24 2008
Somewhat of a disappointment, Nino Ricci's prize winning novel takes an awful long time to get to the point...that the main character must grow up, accept that life events occur randomly, and that those who survive adapt to whatever traumatic events and setbacks life hands them. The latter is the crux of the title of this book, which is not wholly uninteresting, but at times rambling in its narrative structure. Be prepared for many references to the work of Charles Darwin throughout the entire novel. It may also be helpful to consult a map of the Galapagos Islands prior to and during the middle section of the novel, when the main character's adventures become mired in what seems like an existential nightmare. Readers unfamiliar with 1980s Canadian and El Salvadorean politics may also struggle to maintain interest in the text, although these references are metaphorical to the protagonist's struggles. The vast scope of the novel and its settings (from Sweden to South America) are certainly an accomplishment for Ricci, however, readers may find themselves disappointed if they expect to find a quick, well-paced page turner in this lengthy book. [Amy MacDougall]
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Beowulf
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de Gareth Hinds
Édition : Paperback |
| Price: CDN$ 11.70 |
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| Availability: In Stock |
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A fantastic visual spectacle, Dec 16 2008
Illustrator and adaptor Gareth Hinds has created a brillant visual world for Beowulf that brings the epic story to life for readers centuries after its estimated origin from the oral tradition. The illustrations are indeed a rich text - they tell Beowulf's story clearly and definitively. There are a few clever tidbits to discover along the way - such as when Hrothgar imparts his wisdom to Beowulf about being humble in victory, and to not be filled with pride and arrogance as they gaze at a very distant and hazy image of the twin towers in NYC. Both beautiful and grosteque, this Beowulf adaptation will have readers of all ages captivated. An absolute treasure - enjoy! [Amy MacDougall]
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Long Way Gone
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de Ishmael Beah
Édition : Paperback |
| Price: CDN$ 10.64 |
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| Availability: In Stock |
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A powerful personal account of child exploitation, Dec 16 2008
Ishmael Beah's memoir about his life as a child soldier in Sierra Leone gives the reader graphic insight into the recruitment and use of children in armed combat. Without a doubt, Beah's narrative is shocking and disturbing. The first part of the memoir describes Beah's indoctrination into the Sierra Leone military, while the second half deals with his rehabiliation and journey back from the nightmare he has been living as a child soldier. Finally, he is deprogrammed at Benin Home, a local rehabilitation centre near Freetown, and he is selected to travel to the United States to both tell his story and become involved with the United Nations initatives that seek to end the use of child soldiers.
Beah's story is a an unsettling one; yet it also gives the reader hope that change is possible, albeit painfully slow. Beah also compels his audience to think carefully about who is "good" and who is "evil" in a world where all sides involved are committing atrocities. Beah's voice is articulate and clear throughout the course of his memoir, lending authenticity and credibility to his accounts. Recommended. [Amy MacDougall]
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